Edevotional 4-19-17

“Love your neighbor as yourself,” said Jesus. He wasn’t the first to say it. He was quoting Leviticus, that Biblical book of laws that we tend to avoid, “18 You must not take revenge nor hold a grudge against any of your people; instead, you must love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” It is also a rule in Islam: “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” (An-Nawawi’s Forty Hadith 13 (p. 56))

This ethic isn’t just found in the Abrahamic faiths. It’s found in other world religions:

Buddhism: Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. (Udanavarga 5:18)

Sikhism: Precious like jewels are the minds of all. To hurt them is not at all good. If thou desirest thy Beloved, then hurt thou not anyone’s heart. (Guru Arjan Dev Ji 259, Guru Granth Sahib)

Jainism: A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated. (Sutrakritanga, 1.11.33)

Confucianism: Zi gong (a disciple of Confucius) asked: “Is there any one word that could guide a person throughout life?”
The Master replied: “How about ‘shu’ [reciprocity]: never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself?” (Confucius, Analects24, tr. David Hinton)

“Love your neighbor as yourself” is a good starting point for figuring out how to behave, but it can be so blasted difficult! It’s especially hard when our neighbors aren’t following the same guidelines. But imagine how the world, our country, our state, our town, our street, would be different if we all followed this simple Golden Rule. Maybe we should be the ones to start.

Pastor Melissa Earley

HAPPENINGS THIS COMING WEEK

Monday, April 24
Children’s Program Open House 9:00am-11:00am
Meditation 7:00pm

Tuesday, April 25
Children’s Program Open House 1:00pm-3:00pm
Trustees 7:00pm
New Line Dance class begins 7:00pm

Sunday, April 30
Hat Making during Fellowship
Northbrook United Advocacy Meeting 2:30pm-4:00pm